HEY GUYS! I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to get this chapter updated! It's been FAR too long, I know. I was working non-stop, then I went on holiday and had no time or means to write, then I had to finish it and I've been at work again and it's all been very hectic! So I'm sorry it's taken me so long but here it is! Hopefully you'll all be satisfied, and I look forward to hearing all of your amazing reviews! Thank you so much for reading, you're all the best! :D :D
I guess I just lost my husband, I don't know where he went. So I'm gonna drink my money, I'm not gonna pay his rent. I got a brand new attitude and I'm gonna wear it tonight - So What?, Pink
Santana sighed heavily, chewing at the skin beside her nail as she hesitated at the threshold of a door she usually barged through. She glanced around self-consciously, though she knew full well that the hallway was just as empty as it always was, before finally lifting her fist and wrapping her knuckles on the door. Shifting her weight awkwardly, she listened to the sounds of muffled movement before the door in front of her swung open. She gave the blonde a tight smile before swallowing hard and grinning brightly.
"Hey."
"Hi. Why did you knock?" Quinn frowned. She raised an eyebrow as her gaze trawled down the girl's body and back up to her feet.
"Um, I think the fact that you're still wearing last night's outfit answers my question." She chuckled, keeping her voice low, "So did Rachel go home?"
"Oh!" The blonde had a moment of realisation before she shrugged coyly, "She's actually upstairs showering."
"Oh, God. Okay!" Santana suddenly felt flustered, and she took a half-step back, "Do you want me to come back later?" She whispered fervently.
Quinn chuckled, "No, its fine. She has to go straight to work so…"
Santana frowned uneasily, but they were both suddenly distracted as the bathroom door opened above them, clouds of steam billowing out around the small brunette, who beamed as she saw Quinn standing by the door. Her grin faded slightly as she clapped eyes on the other girl in the doorway, and Santana swallowed, holding the other girl's gaze as Rachel stopped in the middle of the balcony.
"Oh, hey, Santana." She gave her a friendly smile and nodded, "Hope you're not feeling too shaky after last night."
"I'm…recovering." She smiled tightly, the unfamiliar camaraderie settling uncomfortably in her stomach, "You look like you're feeling…okay." She nodded, glancing to her best friend as Quinn stifled her giggles.
"Yeah, well," The smaller brunette shrugged, "I didn't drink that much."
"Cool." She nodded some more, her head bobbing uncontrollably as she hovered awkwardly in the doorway, "Anyway…I super need coffee so, uh, I'll just go…get some." She pointed in the direction of the kitchen before sidling away and wandering into the other room.
Rachel giggled as she jogged down the stairs to where Quinn was waiting by the open door, "So, I guess that's my cue to leave?"
"No! Of course not. I mean, I thought you were leaving…for work. Otherwise I wouldn't have let her in, I mean. I'm sorry, am I being too articulate for you?" She sighed, shaking her head incredulously.
"Well from what little I know of Santana, I get the feeling you'd have a hard time keeping her out." Rachel grinned.
"Truth!" The other girl shouted from the kitchen, before adding, "Sorry. I'm not listening."
Quinn rolled her eyes, lowering her voice, "I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine." Chuckled Rachel, resting her hand on Quinn's arm, "So, I'll call you tonight?"
"Definitely." Quinn nodded, "I look forward to it."
Rachel blushed slightly, her smile never leaving her face, "Okay. So, have a nice day."
"Enjoy work." She smiled, both girls hovering nervously before Rachel reached up on her tiptoes to place a gentle peck on the blonde's cheek.
Quinn could feel a blush creeping up her neck as she attempted to restrain her grin, before making a split-second decision and wrapping her arms around the girl's neck. She beamed inwardly as the smaller girl welcomed her embrace, tucking herself into the blonde and curling her arms around Quinn's back, giving her a small squeeze as the other girl held her tightly.
They finally broke apart, both girls grinning widely as Rachel took a step back, "So I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah. Later." Quinn replied stiltedly as the brunette took another step back. Her gaze never left Quinn's as she retreated out of the doorway, giving her an awkward wave as she turned to wander down the hall. The blonde leaned against the edge of the door, watching as the girl descended the stairs and drifted out of sight, her smile unfalteringly chipper. Santana watched from the kitchen doorframe, an eyebrow raised knowingly.
"So it seems someone had a good night last night." She remarked with a smirk, leaning her shoulder on the doorframe, "Did Gay 'Bray get some?"
Quinn rolled her eyes as she shut the door, leaning her back against the wood and grinning as she stared heavenward, "Yes, I did. And no, I didn't."
"What?" The brunette frowned incredulously, carrying her coffee cup over to the couch. "Why do you look so sickeningly ecstatic if she didn't even break your safe?"
"Nice. Topical." Quinn nodded, momentarily distracted before leaping onto the arm of the sofa and sitting down hard, her socked feet bunching the patchwork quilt. "And I didn't need my safe cracking! We stayed up all night just talking about…everything. My parents, her growing up in the city, where we want to be in ten years, stupid stories from our childhood and college. It was just amazing. I am so tired, but it was amazing!"
Santana's eyes narrowed as she twisted on the sofa, laying back against the armrest as she stared up at her best friend, "So...you didn't even tell her how you feel?" She asked, mentally forcing out the hopeful tone from her voice, "I thought you were all pumped to do it?"
"No. I didn't tell her." Quinn grimaced guiltily, sighing heavily as she slid off the arm and curled up at the opposite end to the brunette.
"How come?"
"I don't know." The blonde shrugged a shoulder, "I know I was all pumped, and it had this whole speech worked out and everything." She waved a hand vaguely as she picked at the cover of the sofa.
Santana nodded slowly, watching the girl carefully before asking, "So what happened?"
"I just...we were laid on the floor and I was...trying it pluck up the courage to, you know, just say something." She shrugged, her eyes darting searchingly around the room, "But then as I opened my mouth, I just thought to myself...this is it. In a few moments I'll have said everything and it'll all just be totally...out there." She sighed as she turned back to Santana, her gaze brittle as the brunette stared back at her, her mouth hanging open slightly as she listened to her best friend, the sharp stinging pain in her chest returning with a vengeance as Quinn continued, "And then ever she'll say that she loves me too," Santana swallowed, "or she won't. And...it could be the most incredible moment but it could also just be...awful. Then I freaked myself out. And I couldn't do it." She took a deep breath before groaning loudly and slamming her head against the back of the sofa, burying her face in the patchwork cover as Santana nodded slowly, her eyes far away as she reached out to pat the blonde's knee absent-mindedly.
She gave her head a small shake, bringing herself back into the present and focusing on her friend once more, "So...you're scared she won't like you back? But Q-"
"I know, I know!" The blonde erupted, lifting her head to gaze self-pityingly at her best friend, "All the signs are there, it's obvious. I know. I just," she sighed, calming as she shrugged a shoulder, "I want to tell her. It's like the words are trapped in my chest and they're trying to claw their way out. I want her to know that no matter what she or anyone else ever thinks of her, I love her, and I think that she is utter perfection in every single way. I want her to know how important she is, and how loved she is. And yes, right now it feels like she loves me, too. I don't know that she does, but it sure feels like it." She nodded, "And when I tell her...then I'll know if she really does. Or if she doesn't. And..." She shrugged as she took a deep breath, letting it out in a long exhale, "I think I would just like to enjoy feeling like she loves me for a little while longer, you know? Just...in case she doesn't, right now it's nice to not know."
Santana watched as the blonde dropped her gaze, resting her temple against the back of the sofa and staring down at her fingers as they picked a hole through her jeans. She bit down hard on her lip as she took a deep breath and nodded, "Yeah, I get that. Sometimes not knowing is better. Ignorance is bliss, right?" She gave a weak shrug as Quinn nodded.
"Sorry, that was a bit of a downer, huh?" The blonde chuckled, pushing herself up until she was sat upright. "So, what do you want to do?"
"Don't you have to work or something boring?" Asked Santana, her eyebrow raised.
Quinn opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly the girl's features were clouded by a heavy frown, her eyes narrowing, "Hold on. Weren't you wearing that last night?" Santana swallowed, averting her eyes from the blonde's gaze, "I thought you said you weren't going out!" She giggled, looking delighted yet aghast, "So who was she?"
"Um...I want you to think very carefully about whether you actually want me to answer that question." Santana replied seriously. Quinn's jovial demeanour was now gone as her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Well, I know it wasn't Rachel, but it must be someone bad. Was it Kitty? It wasn't Kitty was it?" She winced as if bracing herself for bad news, but Santana rolled her eyes, hurrying to reassure the blonde.
"No! It was none of your...conquests. If you can call them that." She added absent-mindedly, "But it was someone that we know...kind of. And...it was a judgement call. A favour."
Quinn's expression had morphed from suspicion to horror to sheer curiosity as her friend spoke, until she was now sat staring blankly at the brunette, her lip curled in confusion. "Okay, just tell me because I have no idea who you're talking about and it can't be worse than I imagined."
"Cassie."
"Cassie?" She frowned, "We don't know anyone cal- oh my God!" Realisation hit Quinn and she clasped her hands to her mouth, staring at her best friend as Santana sat awkwardly at the opposite end of the couch. "Are you crazy?" She added, picking up one of the scatter cushions and swinging it round to thump against Santana's arm.
"Okay, why must you keep hitting me with decorative pillows recently?" Santana squawked as she held her arms up to defend herself, "And I'm sorry! She started talking to me and saying she wanted to get back at Brody with someone he hates. I think we can both agree, I was her best option!"
Quinn relented her attack, pushing herself up to perch on the end of the sofa once more, "Oh, and it had nothing to do with the fact that she's smoking hot?"
"Your words, not mine." The brunette snorted, before cradling her head in her arms once more as Quinn reached for the cushion again. "I'm sorry, okay? I just figured she's been through enough! Her husband is cheating on her all over the place while she sits at home with their kid and I thought, you know what? She deserves to get what she wants for a change."
Santana easily decided to omit any other reasons that may have been clouding her judgement.
"I cannot believe you had sex with the love of my life's ex-boyfriend's wife!" Quinn hissed, finally dropping the cushion and sighing heavily, dropping her head into her hands.
"I can't believe you think the sex is the most dysfunctional part of that sentence." She remarked in a low voice, glancing to the cushion between them before steadily tugging it out of the blonde's reach.
Quinn shook her head slowly before looking up at the girl, "What the fuck are we going to tell Rachel?" She asked bluntly, and Santana grimaced awkwardly.
"Do you not think she'll take kindly to the news that Brody got his comeuppance?"
"Not when it involves you having sex with the woman her boyfriend was married to!" Quinn replied, her answer coming out in a torrent of words.
Santana's mouth twisted guiltily. "But isn't it sort of a good thing? Brody cheated on Cassie and Rachel...and now Cassie has cheated on him, with me, and Rachel is with you!"
"Emphasising people's names does not make this okay!" Quinn hissed, sounding panicked.
"But we got our own back on Brody! For being a lecherous, two-timing shit!" Santana insisted, gesticulating wildly, "For hurting Rachel! For betraying his family! For generally thinking that he had the right to do whatever he wanted with no respect for anyone else's feelings!"
Quinn paused, raising an eyebrow, "That's a little rich."
"Okay, I know." Santana admitted with a shrug, "But at least, nine out of ten times, I have good intentions! He was just being a selfish asshole!"
"But no one does benefit from this but you!" The blonde pointed out simply, "Rachel has no idea you slept with Cassie so she doesn't even know Brody has been cheated on. Unless Brody finds out that Cassie cheated on him, with you, then he doesn't even know he's been cheated on. I, frankly, couldn't care less whether he gets cheated on, although admittedly, it's nice. Cassie and you are the only ones who know he's been. Heated on and unless you're going to rub it in his face then there's no real accomplishment anyway!" She ended her rant with a loud groan as she tipped off the arm once again and crumpled on the sofa.
A slow grin spread across Santana's face ass he raised an eyebrow, "Well. Funny you should say that."
Quinn stared at her for a moment before sitting bolt-upright, shaking her head desperately, "No. No, please no. Whatever scheme you've cooked up just please leave me out of it. Please, San."
"It wasn't my idea! It was Cassie's." Santana began, shifting until she was sitting cross-legged, facing the blonde. "It's perfect. We get to publicly make a complete show of Brody, we all get an incredible sense of achievement as we watch him squirm uncomfortably and it involves a kick-ass musical number, which I'm sure you could orchestrate beautifully."
"And who gets to tell Rachel that you talked her ex-boyfriends wife into bed to get her to actually take part in this genius plan?" asked Quinn, one eyebrow raised knowingly. "Wow, you know, between scaring her boyfriend away and fucking her boyfriends wife, you're really helping my chances here!" She added sarcastically.
Santana's eyebrows shot skyward as her brow creased with offence, "Excuse me? Would you have rather I let the love of your life stay with some douchebag? Because I'm pretty sure without me you wouldn't even have a chance. Wind your neck in, blondie."
Quinn sighed heavily, shaking her head as she groaned softly, "How are you so calm about this? How do you not understand how messed up this is? How did I become best friends with a complete sociopath?"
"I'm calm because I know that this will all work out. I know it's a little messed up but honestly? Cassie looked like she needed a little revenge." She shrugged, "And you became best friends with me because you're the luckiest person on this planet, and you need to not forget that." Santana added smugly, before taking a deep breath and sighing sharply, "I am happy to tell Rachel about Cassie and I, and I am happy to explain her plan to her. Both of you, in fact. Because I believe that secretly there is a lot of built up resentment and a lust for revenge hidden in those tiny loafers your hobbit adores so much. Okay?"
Quinn rolled her eyes, suppressing a sigh before nodding sarcastically, "Great."
-oOo-
"Can't we go somewhere else? This place looks a little..." Brody trailed off as he grimaced, shrugging uncomfortably.
"No! I've heard great things about it!" Cassie insisted hopefully, swinging their clasped hands between them before leaning against the doorway, "Come on."
Brody glanced around guiltily, swallowing hard as he felt his brow perspiring, "I'm just...I know some people from work who come here, you know? They don't really like me and I'm just not sure."
"Awh," Cassie pouted sympathetically, stepping forward and placing her hands on his chest, feeling the crisp cotton crumple slightly under her fingertips, "Please, I really want tot ray , and it's open mic night!" She gasped delightedly, "why don't we just sit near the back? And if anyone tries anything they'll have me to answer to. I promise I'll make it worth your while?" She raised an eyebrow dangerously as her eyes flitted up and down, before her tongue darted across her lips.
"Alright, fine. But I don't want to stay long, okay?" He tilted his head seriously, "Just a couple of drinks."
"Yes!" She grinned, "Thank you!" She took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before leading him inside.
Quinn gasped as they entered, turning her back on the door and quickly crouching down, burying her face in her guitar case as Cassie and Brody took a seat at a table against the opposite wall, the closest available table to the door. The blonde's eyes widened in horror as Santana appeared from the bathroom, a curious frown on her face.
"So what time are they me-" she asked loudly, butt he blonde grabbed the leg of her jeans and tugged hard.
"Get down!" She hissed, pulling the girl to the floor. Santana let out a small shriek before regaining her composure and staring incredulously at her best friend.
"What is the matter with you?"
Quinn jerked her head in the direction of the door, "They're already here. They're early, did Cassie tell you why?"
"No." She shook her head with a small shrug, "Oh, text Rachel. Make sure she comes in through the back or he'll see her. And he'd know that there's no way Rachel wouldn't notice him or make a scene."
"I still don't like this." The blonde groaned, glancing over her shoulder as she continued pretending to root through her equipment.
"You'll be fine." Santana replied in a low voice, watching the couple over her shoulder through the tables, "Just do what you normally do and don't make eye contact with Brody or he'll know something's up." She turned back to her friend, only to find Quinn watching her, looking slightly anxious. Santana was suddenly hyper-aware of their close proximity, the buzz of chatter in the bar filling her ears and morphing into deafening white noise as she attempted to take a deep breath. The air caught in her throat as her chest tightened. The blonde was chewing on her lip, her face centimetres from her own. Santana forced herself not to look, but her eyes darted downwards despite herself. She felt her hands growing clammy as Quinn suddenly grinned.
"What's the matter with you?" She asked teasingly, "Not getting stage-fright are we?"
Santana started a little, but quickly gave a snort of derision as he shook her head, "Santana Lopez does not get nervous. I'm just...hoping you don't freak out and blow the whole thing." She shrugged, but the blonde rolled her eyes.
"Don't you worry about me."
-oOo-
Quinn chewed the inside of her cheek nervously as she stood by the side of the stage, tapping her foot as she waited for the barman to turn the volume down on the bar's background music. The song began to fade and she made her way up the steps, ensuring to keep her gaze trained on the stage as she hooked her guitar strap around her shoulders and plugged her cable into the amp. If she looked up for even a second, she feared she would catch Brody's eye and give the game away. Truthfully, even if she didn't know he was there, she would never dare make a scene upon seeing him with his wife, however they didn't dare take the chance of making him suspicious. She cleared her throat quietly, glancing around the stage to ensure that all of the microphones were in place.
She moved to the centre of the stage, switching the microphone on at the side and smiling at the audience. Relief washed over her as she looked up at the bright lights, which obscured her view of the crowd until she could only see the first few rows. "Hey, guys! Me again. Good to see you all and I'm, uh…very excited to be here." She attempted to lie convincingly, whilst silently hoping that the audience wouldn't notice her shaking hands. "So, here goes. This one is…sort of a…weird dedication?" She shrugged, "It's for a certain blonde…from a certain brunette."
Strumming once, she allowed the chord to ring out as she sang the introduction, trying valiantly not to let her voice crack as it rang out through the silent bar, "Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman. Well maybe he won't find out what I know: you were the last good thing about this part of town." She allowed for a few seconds of quiet before beginning to play enthusiastically, grinning despite herself as she stepped up to the mic once more, "When I wake up, I'm willing to take my chances on the hope I forget, that you hate him more than you notice I wrote this for you." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her best friend poking her head around the door of the bathrooms. She looked to the back of the room, but couldn't see Cassie's reaction. "You need him. I could be him. I could be an accident but I'm still trying. And that's more than I can say for him."
Glancing over to Santana, she noticed the girl grinning before popping out of sight once more. She gathered the song was having the desired effect. "Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman. Maybe he won't find out what I know: you were the last good thing about this part of town.
"Someday I'll appreciate in value, get off my ass and call you. In the meantime I'll sport my
brand new fashion, of waking up with pants on at four in the afternoon." A movement from the bathroom caught her eye once more, and she glanced over distractedly to see Rachel peering through the high window of the door to the bathrooms, her eyes crinkled in a grin despite the bottom of her face being obscured due to her height. "You need him. I could be him. I could be an accident but I'm still trying. That's more than I can say for him."
She started the final chorus with a renewed vigor as Rachel's face dropped down out of view, "Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman. Maybe he won't find out what I know: you were the last good thing about this part of town."
Grinning, she accepted the applause with a humble nod of her head, panting slightly from the excited exertion as she took her place at the microphone once more. "Thanks, guys! Okay so…I am going to move over here." She pointed to the side of the stage before side-stepping over to another microphone. "And you will see why, as this next performance is…a little different." She shrugged curiously.
Cassie squeezed Brody's hand to get his attention, leaning in close to murmur, "I'm just gonna run to the bathroom. I'll be back in a minute." She grinned brightly before pushing off her seat and wandering across the room.
Brody took a deep breath, shaking his head disbelievingly as he breathed a sigh of mild-relief. Elbows on the table, he dropped his face into his hands, closing his eyes against the stress of the evening.
"Okay…" Quinn looked down at her guitar as she began strumming gently, before nodding to the barman once more. He turned to the lighting controls, sliding a few switches up and down the board. Quinn was plunged into darkness as the lights illuminated the opposite side of the stage.
Brody's face turned white as he stared up at the stage, where his wife stood behind the microphone with a knowing smile. As Quinn played, she took a deep breath before opening her mouth, "I sit and wonder where you've gone. Have you found a head to crown, that stays under when you push it down? I sit and ponder what went wrong. Was I too emotional, too many puzzles for your simple soul? Does she let you sleep, when she's awake?"
Quinn nodded once more, and the lights went up on the centre of the stage, where Rachel stood waiting patiently as the blonde strummed harder, "And does she close her eyes? Pay the asking price? Does she suffer with a smile? Take a penny for her soul that's all, part of loneliness."
"Drinks the honey of your promises." Cassie continued, "Does she know that's all the love you got?"
Santana crossed the back of the stage, ensuring to stay out of the light as she joined Quinn at her microphone, ready for the lights to lift as they echoed, "That's all the love you got."
Brody swiped the back of his fingers across the stubble on his cheek, his jaw tensing rhythmically. He could feel perspiration beading on his forehead, and he tore his eyes away from the horror playing out on the stage to wipe his face along the shirt covering his upper arm.
"Does she know that's all the love you got?" The four girls' voices melded together to finish the first chorus, before Rachel and Cassie took it in turns to sing the next lines.
"Tell me does it feel the same?" Cassie tilted her head thoughtfully as Rachel continued,
"Is she close enough to hurt; when she takes it does it make it worse?"
Cassie watched her husband shifting uncomfortably as she joined, "Do you still kill the perfect day, with a twinkle in your eye?"
"Do you steal away, when she's asleep?" Rachel sang, one eyebrow raised. "And does she close her eyes, pay the asking price? Does she suffer with a smile?"
"Take a penny for her soul, that's all part of loneliness. Drinks the honey of your promises. Does she know that's all the love you got? That's all the love you got."
Quinn and Santana exchanged a triumphant grin, each taking a deep breath before joining the other two girls to sing the chorus for a final time. As they finished the song, holding the final note in a perfect harmony, they grinned at each other, each one's chest heaving from the release. Quinn felt her anxiety ebb away as it sank in that they had achieved their goal, and without any major catastrophes.
Cassie gave a care-free chuckle as she announced, "That was dedicated to my wonderful, faithful, loving husband." Before she moved across to swing an arm around Rachel's shoulders, turning to confess, "Thank you for doing this with me. I needed it."
"Really, it felt great." The small brunette nodded her agreement. Cassie turned to look over to Quinn and Santana, who held her hand out to squeeze the woman's hand, before grabbing the centre microphone from its stand to add,
"Oh, by the way!" She grimaced mock-guiltily, "Sorry, Body. I fucked your wife."
The boy's tense, stony expression morphed into a grimace of rage as he stood up, grabbing his jacket from the seat and shrugging it over his shoulders before standing solidly by the door.
Cassie gave a loud laugh as Rachel and Quinn stood with stunned half-grins on their faces, before the blonde woman pulled them all into a group hug, "Okay, ladies. Thank you for letting me get my revenge. But now, I guess I have to have a…conversation." She rolled her eyes before taking a deep breath and shrugging.
They watched as she crossed to the stairs, before Santana suddenly jogged after her, placing a hand on her arm, "Hey. Sorry, I know you have to go but," She shrugged, "I don't know. I know we probably won't see each other again but, you know…if you ever need anything, give me a call, yeah?"
"Of course." Cassie nodded, "And of course, that works both ways."
"Look after yourself." Santana added kindly, giving a small nod to emphasize her point. The woman smiled sadly before agreeing.
"I will. I want you to do the same." She glanced over the girl's shoulder to Rachel and Quinn, who still stood centre-stage, talking closely as Quinn adjusted the controls with her foot in preparation for her next song. "It's a shitty situation you're in. So just look out for yourself first."
Santana nodded, smiling as Cassie turned to jog down the steps, sauntering confidently across to her husband, who stared stolidly down at the ground. She turned at the door, wiggling her fingers at the girls on the stage before grinning contentedly and turning to Brody, "Now we can leave."
The two brunettes made their way off the stage and towards the bar as Quinn crossed to the centre microphone, the lights dimming until she was standing in the soft spotlight once more. "So…thank you for being so accommodating of our little, uh, scheme." She chuckled self-consciously, "But now, the night can continue as normal." She grinned, stepping back to take a deep breath, her calloused finger tips finding their notes before she took her place again, and began to play.
"I was scared of dentists and the dark. I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations. Oh, all my friends are turning green. You're the magician's assistant in their dreams." She looked over to the bar, where her friends were stood side-by-side, watching her. "Ooh, ooh, and they come unstuck.
"Lady, running down to the riptide. Taken away to the dark side, I wanna be your left hand gal." Cutting her eyes to her friends once more, she saw them smiling back at her, Rachel's grin considerably brighter than Santana's smile, "I love you when you're singing that song and I got a lump in my throat, 'cause you're gonna sing the words wrong.
"There's this movie that I think you'll like. This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City. This cowboy's running from himself, and she's been living on the highest shelf. Ooh, ooh, and they come unstuck." She played enthusiastically, her foot tapping as she launched into the second chorus.
"I just wanna, I just wanna know," She sang, giving a small, incredulous chuckle, "If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay. I just gotta, I just gotta know. I can't have it, I can't have it any other way.
"I swear she's destined for the screen. Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen. Oh, lady, running down to the riptide. Taken away to the dark side, I wanna be your left hand gal. I love you when you're singing that song and I got a lump in my throat, 'cause you're gonna sing the words wrong." She finished the song on one final chord, letting it ring out into the darkened room before breathing a sigh of relief.
Rachel stood at the bar, chewing coyly on her straw as she attempted to control her grin. Santana watched the girl's eyelashes fluttering before glancing up to the stage, where Quinn was oh-so-subtly glancing over at the small brunette. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead taking a deep breath and turning away to stare at the bottles lined up on the shelves behind the bar.
-oOo-
"Hey! Great set. I'll be right back." Santana nodded to her best friend as she hurried past her into the bathroom.
Quinn raised a quizzical eyebrow, making her way down the last step and heading over to the bar, where Rachel was waiting with open arms. "Hey." She grinned breathlessly before the brunette tugged her into a tight hug.
"You were amazing! So amazing." She gushed happily as she pulled away, leaving her arms linked around Quinn's waist. The blonde could feel Rachel's finger's brushing the hem of her thin t-shirt, welcoming the opportunity to leave her hands draped around the girl's neck. "So I was thinking…"
"Yeah?" Quinn gave her a small smile as Rachel glanced away, chewing on her lip.
"Maybe when I've finished my set we could just go?" She shrugged nervously, "Like, I don't really feel like getting drunk so…" She lifted her eyes to Quinn's once more, her cheeks pinking with self-consciousness, but the other girl grinned.
"Definitely. That sounds…perfect."
Santana stood by the stage for a split second before sighing impatiently, turning sharply on her heel and striding back into the bathrooms, pulling her phone from her pocket as she did so. She stopped by the sink, resting her hands either side of the basin and bowing her head, her eyes closing against the bright fluorescent lights. The image of Quinn and Rachel, standing with their arms wrapped around each other, was burned into her retinas. She straightened up, taking a deep breath as she stared at her reflection, her jaw tensing rhythmically as she lifted her phone and began scrolling through contacts. Blinking rapidly, her heart hammered against her chest as she stared at the familiar name, before she lost her nerve and clicked back to the menu.
The same picture had been her background screen ever since she could remember; her and Quinn stood in the supermarket carrying multiple bottles of wine, beer and liqueurs. The photo was taken from arm's length as both girls grimaced comically. It had been Quinn's birthday, and Santana had attempted to convince her to go to a club of some sort. The blonde had wanted to stay in and watch movies. They found a happy medium after researching various movie-themed drinking games on the internet.
She swallowed hard as she stared at the picture, so familiar now that she barely noticed it. Even when she was bearing her teeth like a lion, Quinn was fucking gorgeous. She tapped the screen, bitterly switching back to her contacts list and pressing call before she could consider the decision for any longer. Raising the phone to her ear, she turned away from her own reflection to lean against the counter instead. After listening to the ringing tone for a few seconds, the phone was answered.
"Hi…are you okay?" The girl sounded puzzled, but Santana ignored her.
"Hey. Are you free tonight?"
There was a beat of silence, "Um, for what? Like, for a drink? Or for…a drink?"
"What do you think?" She said with a small chuckle.
"Okay." The girl conceded, "Your place or mine?"
Santana gave a loud laugh before answering, "Mine. Definitely mine. There is no way I'm scaling your apartment building again. Plus, it looks like Quinn's gonna be way too busy to come rescue me tonight."
"Hm." Becky nodded, "Okay. I'm sorry about that, by the way. I didn't really think I'd hear from you again after that."
"Yeah well," Santana sighed, "Neither did I. I'll be at my apartment in half an hour."
"Same." The blonde replied before swiftly hanging up.
Rachel was already on stage when she returned to the bar, crossing swiftly to where Quinn was perched on a bar-stool, a forced grin on her face. "Okay, I'm gonna head out. Thanks for tonight." She made to leave but the blonde grabbed her arm.
"Woah! Hey. Where are you going?" She frowned with confusion, "What's up?"
"Nothing. I just, uh…have a date." Santana averted her eyes, gazing around the bar distractedly.
"A date? With who, you only went to the bathroom?" Quinn was watching the girl on stage as they spoke, and Santana resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Yeah well, I got a call while I was in there. Anyway, I really need to go and besides, you and Rachel will go off and…do your thing at some point tonight anyway." She shrugged, "This way you don't need to worry about me."
Quinn frowned, finally looking to her friend before relenting with a shrug, "Well…alright. Have fun."
"Will do." She nodded curtly before turning and marching across the bar and pushing through the doors, allowing them to swing back and forth behind her as she quickly hailed a taxi.
-oOo-
"Tonight was awesome." Rachel smiled contentedly as they strolled down Quinn's street in the direction of her apartment building, their arms full of equipment and cases.
"Yeah it was. Plus," Quinn nodded, "it's nice to be leaving the bar closer to sober than drunk. And actually being able to see pretty-much-straight."
"Most unusual." The brunette agreed, nodding enthusiastically with a chuckle. They fell into an easy silence as they wandered, though Quinn was almost positive that her heart was hammering hard enough to be literally audible.
A tight knot had formed in her stomach, twisting and coiling like an angry snake as she contemplated the possibility of confessing to Rachel. How much should she tell her? Is she supposed to tell her everything, or play it down? Would she scare the girl away if she admitted that she had been having incredibly strong feelings for a fairly long time; should she pretend to have just started having feelings instead?
"Awh, Quinn." Rachel grinned tipsily, "I love you."
"Oh, God." Quinn sighed contemplatively, "I'm so in love with you."
Rachel stopped. The blonde strode ahead, still lost in her own panicky thoughts, as Rachel stood blankly. Noticing the girl's absence, Quinn frowned, turning to look for the girl and finding her staring back at her.
"What did you say?" She asked softly.
Quinn quickly replayed their conversation in her head before gasping under her breath. She swallowed hard, stumbling to reply, "Oh. I, uh. I didn't, I mean."
"You're in love with me?" Rachel asked, a hesitant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"I don't know if I'd say I'm in-"
"Quinn."
She nodded, falling silent as they stood opposite each other on the darkened street. She shifted her guitar case on her back, rubbing her thumb against the rough chord strap as she searched for a way to explain, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Okay, yeah." She nodded slowly, taking a deep breath as her chest tightened, "So…for a little while now I've kind of been…thinking about you, I guess? A lot. And not like how I used to think about you a lot because I saw you all the time but more like think about you a lot like…when I have nothing else to think about, you're my go-to. And even when I do have other things to think about, I still think of you." She shrugged, "And I hated Brody. And not just because he was an asshole but because, you know, you liked him and he was with you and it drove me crazy. Like, crazy like I've never known before." She raised her eyes skywards as she shook her head at the memory, "And also because, yeah, he was an asshole but he was also totally fucking unaware. Like, who bails on you? You, of all people? Who could ever physically bring themself to just up and leave? For whatever reason." She rolled her eyes, "Jesus, like seriously, Brody, do you not even realize how good you had it?"
Rachel stared, open-mouthed, as Quinn babbled absent-mindedly.
"I'm sorry, I know I'm rambling but he was just so stupid, because if I was lucky enough to be in his position then I would never ever leave your side. And I'm pretty sure no other sane person would either, because you're hilarious. And gorgeous, and adorable and just…so much fun to be around. So…why would anyone choose to be anywhere but with you, if they had the chance?"
The brunette bent at the knee slowly as Quinn chattered, abandoning the cases on the floor before running at the girl, grabbing the front of her hoodie and tugging her close before throwing her arms around the blonde's neck. Quinn took a small step back from the force as the girl barreled into her, her eyes wide with shock as the brunette's lips slammed against her own. Rachel tasted like fruity cocktails as her tongue pushed its way into Quinn's mouth. Pinching herself internally, the girl quickly came to her senses as she fully realized what was happening, and she dropped her case onto the ground before winding her arms around the smaller girl's waist, pulling her close until Rachel was craning on her tip-toes, her eyes closed against the headlights of passing traffic.
"Oh my God." She breathed as they broke away for a second, until Rachel's hand was in her hair, pulling her lips back down to meet her own.
"I know." The brunette nodded breathlessly as she pulled back, staring up into hazel eyes as Quinn gazed disbelievingly down at her. "We should pick up those cases."
"This is New York." Quinn stated with a nod, "Someone might steal them." She added, bowing her head once again to bite the brunette's bottom lip, before pulling away and leaning over to pick the case up once again.
Rachel hurried back to where she had placed the others, picking the up quickly and jogging back to where the blonde stood waiting, "Come on!" She urged, "I want to get back to the apartment as quickly as possible."
Quinn's eyebrows shot skywards as she stood glued to the spot for a second as Rachel rushed ahead, before she caught herself and ran along after her, the pair reaching the door of her building within minutes. Quinn punched in the code desperately before swinging the door open for Rachel and gesturing for her to enter. The girl grinned as she passed, but paused in the open doorway to switch both cases into one hand and push the blonde against the door. Rachel's hand dug into the pocket of the girl's baggy jeans, retrieving the keys to the apartment before lifting the hem of her tshirt with her index finger and dragging her fingertip across her body, above her waistband. She dragged her nails down the muscle at the girl's hip, making Quinn gasp, until suddenly she was gone, leaving the blonde's mouth tingling as she watched the brunette sprinting up the staircase.
"Are you coming?"
"Um…yeah."